Majority Oppose North Carolina Gay Marriage Ban Amendment

By
Carlos Santoscoy
Published:
September 30, 2011

A majority of North Carolina residents
oppose a proposed amendment to the North Carolina state constitution
that would ban gay marriage, Raleigh-based WRAL
reported.

According to an Elon University Poll
released Friday, 56 percent of residents oppose the amendment
lawmakers earlier this month okayed for ratification by voters in
May.

Thirty-nine percent of respondents say
they support the measure, a drop of 4 percentage points since March,
2009.

The survey of 594 people conducted
between September 25 – 29 has a margin of error of plus or minus
4.02 percentage points.

While respondents don't want to
enshrine the state's prohibition against marriage equality in the
constitution, a majority also object to gay marriage. Only 33
percent of respondents said they support full marriage rights for gay
couples, an increase of 12 percentage points since March, 2009.

“The ballot referendum that would ban
same-sex marriage will be the issue to watch this year,” Mileah
Kromer, assistant director of the Elon University Poll, said in a
statement. “With North Carolinians so divided on this issue,
expect a tough battle over the next few months as both sides attempt
to sway public opinion in their favor.”

The proposed amendment would bar the
state from legalizing marriage, civil unions and possibly domestic
partnerships for gay and lesbian couples.

Twenty-nine percent of those surveyed
said they support civil unions or domestic partnerships, but not full
marriage, for gay couples.